Amusement device



July 20, 1948. DAWS 2,445,387

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 T? 3% L l I \\\\s a Q 3 w i L Liv [nae/2202" jazz/fence 6. Davis,

July 20, 1948. D VIS 2445,38?

AMUS EMENT DEVI CE Filed Nov. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l I I I inventor July 20, 1948. c, DAv s 2,445,387

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 24, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 jnuerzior Lawrence 6. Dal/1L6,

Attorney Patented July 20, 1948 umrso srA'rss PATENT OFFICE 3 2,445,387 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Lawrence G. Davis, Miami, Fla. Application November 24, 1945, Serial No. states This invention relates to mechanical toys and generally to a toy simulatin a circus or like amusement and entertaining device.

It is an object of the resent invention to (provide a toy of the above mentioned nature cornposed of a plurality of parts that are normally sold in a knocked-down form to be erected b the user in much the same manner as a circus, lending a life-like appearance to the device and stimulating the ingenuity of the user.

Other and important objects and advantages of the invention will present themselves during the course of the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device in erected form and illustrating the use of equipment for one gymnast,

Figure '2 is a fragmentary end perspective of a cross bar shown in Figure 1,

Fi ure 3 is a side elevation of a ymnast upon the equipment shown in Figure I,

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a side elevationof the erected device, With all equipment removed,

Figure 6 is afragmen-tary perspective viewof a corner pole showing the method of attachment to the main frame,-

Figure '7 is a section on 1---! of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a section on 8-8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective of a corner of the safety net, showing the manner of assembling the supporting props,

Figure 10 is a perspective or the in Figure 1,

Figure 11 is a ion itudinaisection throu h the main frame, illustrating the trapeze and cross bar of Figure 1 and illustrating the manner of attachment of the gymnast of Figure 3 and the motion imparted thereto,

Figure 12 is a similar view with the trapeze at the end of its movement and the gymnast in the act of striking the cross-bar,

Figure 13 is a similar View illustrating the final action of the gymnast after striking the bar.

Like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the nufor use trapeze shown meral 5 designates a base, preferably formed of wood and rectangular in shape. Supported upon the base 5 are four poles 6, held in vertical posi-=- tion by pins 1, carried by the lower ends of the poles and engaging in sockets 8 of the base. The poles are also provided at their upper ends with 3 Claims. (01. iii-r20) 2 v 7 pins 9 and are adapted to support a mainframe In by 'theinterengagement of the pins' 9 inopn' in-gs H of said frame. As clearly shown, the frame is rectangular and preferably formed of a,- flat metallic band At erection, the poles and supported frame I0 are held against twisting or misalignment, by guy cords, secured to the upper ends of the poles, as at I3 and adjustably con nectedto eyes I4 carried by the base 5. The erection of the poles and the frame done in much the same manner as that done by workmen in a conventional circus.

Mounted between the poles 6 and substantially co exten'sive with the base 5, is a safety net; de noted generally by the numeral I51 The nt is preferably formed of a woven material and has its .ends l6 wovenabouta cross supporting bar l1. As clearly shown, the net is spaced above the base 5 and the bars H are in turn supported by diagonal braces l8, whose ends are provided with pins l9 and 28. The pins 19, see Figure -8, engage in diagonal recesses 2! of the base; While the pins 20 engage openings 22 in the ends of the bars ll. Guy cords 2-3 carried by the bars l1, adja= cent their ends; serve to hold the net com ara= tively taut, by being adjustably connected to eyes 24 carried by the base 5. Intermediate diagonal poles 2-5 serve to support the sides of'the net.- such poles connected to the net at "their u'p'per ends and provided with pins, similar to the pins I9 and engageable in diagonal recesses in the base,-

not shown.- Guy cords 26 are attached to the upper ends of the poles 2-5 and are also adjustably connected to eyes 21; carried by the base. Any suitable adjusting means may be employed for' the several cords.- The net is further supported by being tied to the poles 6, as at 28 and also by end cords 29, fixed at one end to the upper ends of the poles 6 and at their lower ends to the cross bar H. The structure so far described and its method of assembly, corresponds to that employed for equipment used in the art of gymnastics.

Referring to Figures 1, 10 and 11, the numeral 30 designates a swinging trapeze, preferably formed of wire and being of a generally U-shape and provided with eyes 3! at its free ends for swingably engaging eyes 32, carried by U-shaped supporting hooks 33. The trapeze is supported upon the end portion of the frame In by the hooks 33 and is freely swingable longitudinally of theframe. The hooks 33 snugly engage the frame to prevent accidental displacement of the trapeze. The trapeze is adapted to swing in an arc, as c a ly illustrated in Figure 11. The numeral 3 designates a striking and supporting bar, see Figures 1, 2 and 11. The bar 34 has its ends bent downwardly as at 35, for engaging the side runs of the frame and slidable locking members 36 are carried by the bar to engage beneath the frame In at assembly, to prevent displacement of the bar upon being struck by the gymnast, to be described.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4, 11, 12 and 13, the numeral 31 designates one form of gymnast, having a body portion 38, upwardly and slightly rearwardly extending rigid arms 39 and legs 40.

The legs 40 are pivotally connected, as at 4|, to

the body 38 and the legs are crooked at the knees,

as at 42, for forming a socket 43, for a purpose to be described. The arms are provided with rearwardly extending eyes 44, serving as supporting means for the gymnast upon the trapeze 30, see Figure 11. The gymnast is preferably clothed to simulate a conventional acrobat.

In the use of this invention, the operator holds the trapeze in substantially the position shown in Figure 11 and the gymnast is supported thereon by the eyes 44, as in Figure 11. It should be understood that the bar 34 is positioned on the frame in a predetermined position by suitable markings, such as color combinations and such bar is in a position to be struck by the gymnast upon being released. When the trapeze is released by the operator, the gymnast will swing through the are indicated in Figure 11, his body striking the bar 34 at about the point A, at which time the legs 4!] swing upon their pivot around the bar 34 and the body drops by gravity, freeing itself from the trapeze and being supported upon the bar by the socket 43. In the initial mounting of the gymnast upon the trapeze, the legs are first moved to the position shown in Figure 3 and are normally held in such position by a slight frictional engagement of the pivot 4|.

It will be observed from the foregoing, that a very novel and entertaining device has been provided. The structure is intended to be sold in knocked-down form, all suitably encased in a suitable container and the assembly thereof is intended to stimulate the structural and mechanical interest of the user, which serves as much in entertainment, as the actual performance of the gymnasts. One of more of the gymnastic attachments may be sold with the set and others added from time to time to maintain interest and to build up a train of acrobatic stunts. The various gymnasts and. their particular apparatus may carry suitable color combinations to readily distinguish the several parts in a particular stunt. Color markings may likewise be placed on the main frame to assist in properly positioning the various accessories. From the standpoint of structure, the device is very simple, cheap to manufacture, is strong, durable and highly entertaining in use.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the actual details of construction shown, but that it includes in its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A simulated circus comprising a rectangular base and a rectangular frame, means for rigidly supporting the frame in spaced parallelism to the base, a trapeze longitudinally swingably supported upon the frame, a cross bar rigidly supported upon the frame, a simulated gymnast, means for supporting the ymnast upon the trapeze for swinging movement, said last named supporting means permitting automatic disengagement of the gymnast from the trapeze upon predetermined contact of the trapeze riding gymnast with the cross bar, said contact automatically causing the gymnast to be suspended upon said cross bar.

2. The matter of claim 1, said gymnast having fixed arms and pivoted legs, said arms provided with rearwardly extending supporting devices, said legs being permanently crooked at the knee, said gymnast being detachably suspended from said trapeze by said supporting devices to permit the gymnast to move with said trapeze in an arc, said cross bar so positioned in the path of move- .ment of th gymnast as to cause the legs to swing about their pivots and suspend the gymnast from the bar by said legsupon contact of the gymnast with the crossbar, such action disengaging the gymnast from the trapeze.

3. The matter of claim 1, said trapeze being of a U-shape, hooks for supporting the trapeze from the frame, pivotal connection between the trapeze and th hooks, said cross bar being provided with downturned ends for engagement with the side rails of the frame and slidable locking means for retaining the downturned ends in engagement with the frame.

LAWRENCE C. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,515,146 Clark Nov. 11,1924 2,169,719 7 Schmidt "1.1mm" Aug. 15, 1939 

